Document feed mechanism



March 8, 1966 Filed Sept. 5, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.1

INVENTORS MILES DAVIS JOHN W. WAGNER BYWYIY A TTORNE Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Sept.

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BY JOHN w. WAGNER ATTORNEY March 8, 1966 M. DAVIS ETAL DOCUMENT FEEDMECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 5, 1963 INVENTORS MlLES DAVISJOHN W. WAGNER BY 7" W RW A TTORNE Y March 1966 M. DAVIS ETAL 3,239,215

DOCUMENT FEED MECHANISM Filed Sept. 5, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORSMILES DAVIS JOHN W. WAGNER ywf/M A TTORNEY United States Patent M3,239,215 DQCTUMENT FEED MECHANISM Miles Davis, Rochester, and John W.Wagner, Penfield, N.Y., assignors to Xerox Corporation, Rochester, N.Y.,a corporation of New York lFiietl Sept. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 305,932 4Claims. (Cl. 27151) This invention relates to a Xerographic reproducingapparatus and, in particular, to a document feed mechanism fortransporting a document or original to be reproduced.

Specifically, the invention relates to an improved docu ment feedmechanism including a copy drum having clamping means or grippers bywhich a document may be releasably secured on the copy drum so as to becarried around thereby and so as to be released from the copy drum whendesired, and a document stripper device adapted to release a documentfrom the copy drum.

Both in the printing art and in the document reproducing art, variousdevices have been designed and constructed by means of which thinflexible sheets, such as documents or sheets of paper, are carried in acircular path by means of a blanket cylinder, or copy drum. Also inthese machines, various devices, such as grippers, have been used topermit the releasable retention of a flexible sheet onto the drum orcylinder and to permit the release of these sheets from the drum orcylinder when desired.

However, it has been found that sheets will sometimes continue to adhereto the blanket cylinder or copy drum even after release by the grippersbecause of static electricity or other causes.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to improvedocument feed mechanism whereby a document may be releasably secured inposition on a rotating copy drum so as to be carried around thereby andso as to be released from the drum when desired without the necessity ofstopping the copy drum.

Another object of the invention is to improve document feed mechanismwhereby a document will be automatically stripped from a copy drum fordischarge from the machine.

For a better understanding of the invention as Well as other objects andfurther features thereof, reference is had to the following detaileddescription of the invention to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the copy drum ofthe apparatus ofFIG. 1 with elements normally positioned in the foreground andbackground removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the copy drum;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the copy drum; and

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are views similar to FIG. 5 showing the position ofthe various elements of the copy drum and elements associated therewithduring different rotative positions of the copy drum.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown schematically in FIG. 1 axerographic reproducing apparatus used for producing xerographicreproductions from a moving original.

The xerographic reproducing apparatus is adapted for installation withina suitable light-tight housing or cabinet of a size so that the entireunit may be mounted on an office desk or table.

General As shown, the xerographic apparatus comprises a 3,239,215Patented Mar. 8, 1966 xerographic plate including a photoconductivelayer or light-receiving surface on a conductive backing and formed inthe shape of a drum, generally designated by numeral 20, which isjournaled in a frame to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrowto cause the drum surface sequentially to pass a plurality ofxerographic processing stations.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the several xerographicprocessing stations in the path of movement of the drum surface may bedescribed functionally, as'follows:

A charging station, at which a uniform electrostatic charge is depositedon the photoconductive layer of the xerographic drum;

An exposure station, at which a light or radiation pattern of copy to bereproduced is projected onto the drum surface to dissipate the drumcharge in the exposed areas thereof and thereby form a latentelectrostatic image of the copy to be reproduced;

A developing station, at which a xerographic developing materialincluding toner particles having an electrostatic charge opposite tothat of the electrostatic latent image are cascaded over the drumsurface, whereby the toner particles adhere to the electrostatic latentimage to form a xerographic powder image in the configuration of thecopy to be reproduced; I

A transfer station, at which the xerographic powder image iselectrostatically transferred from the drum surface to a transfermaterial or support surface; and,

A drum cleaning station, at which the drum surface is first charged andthen brushed or wiped to remove residual toner particles remainingthereon after image transfer, and at which the drum surface is exposedto a relatively bright light source to effect substantially completedischarge of any residual electrostatic charge remaining thereon.

The charging station is preferably located as indicated by referencecharacter A in the schematic illustration of the apparatus. In general,the charging apparatus or corona charging device 21 includes a coronadischarge array of one or more discharge electrodes that extendtransversely across the drum surface and are energized from a highpotential source and are substantially enclosed within a shieldingmember. 7

Next subsequent thereto in the path of motion of the xerographic drum isan exposure station B. This exposure station may be one of a number oftypes of mechanisms or members such as desirably an optical scanning orprojection system, or the like, designed to project a line copy imageonto the surface of the photoconductive xerographic drum from a suitableoriginal.

The optical scanning or projection assembly consists of a copyboard inthe shape of a drum, hereinafter referred to as copy drum 30, which isadapted to support copy to be reproduced and arranged to rotate in lightprojection relation to the moving light-receiving surface of thexerographic plate. Uniform lighting is provided by suitable lamps 31attached to a slotted light reflector 32 mounted adjacent to the copydrum.

A slotted light shield 33, adapted to protect the xerographic plate fromextraneous light, is positioned adjacent to the surface of thexerographic plate. A slot aperture in the light shield extendstransversely to the path of movement of the light-receiving surface ofthe xerographic drum 20 to permit reflected rays from the copy drum tobe directed against a limited transverse area of the lightreceivingsurface as it passes thereunder.

To enable the optical system to be enclosed within a relatively smallcabinet, a folder optical system including an object mirror 34, a lens35, and an image mirror 36, is used in the preferred embodiment of theapparatus.

A document fed through document guides 37 to the copy drum is removablysecured thereon by a suitable gripper mechanism for movement therewithin timed relation to the movement of the xerographic drum whereby aflowing image of the copy is projected onto the xerographic drum. Thecopy is held against the surface of the copy drum until gripped by meansof document retaining guides 38. After the copy is scanned it isreleased from the copy drum to be transported out of the machine by thecopy drum and document feed out rollers 42 through document feed outguide 43.

Adjacent to the exposure station is a developing station C in whichthere is positioned a developer apparatus 50 including a developerhousing having a lower or sump portion for accumulating developermaterial 51. Mounted within the developer housing is a drivenbucket-type conveyor 52 used to carry the developer material previouslysupplied to the developer housing to the upper portion of the developerhousing from where the developer material is cascaded over a hopperchute 53 onto the drum.

As the developer material cascades over the drum, toner particles of thedeveloper material adhere electrostatically to the previously formedelectrostatic latent image areas on the drum to form visible xerographicpowder image; the remaining developer material falling off theperipheral surface of the drum into the bottom of the developer housing.Toner particles consumed during the developing operation to form thexerographic powder images are replenished by a toner dispenser 54mounted within the developer housing.

Positioned next adjacent to the developing station is the image transferstation D which includes suitable sheet feeding mechanism adapted tofeed sheets of paper successively to the xerographic drum incoordination with the presentation of the developed image on the drum atthe transfer station. The sheet feeding mechanism includes a sheetsource such as paper tray 60 for a plurality of sheets of a suitablesupport material, that is, sheets of paper or the like, separatorrollers 61 ada ted to feed the top sheet of the stack of supportmaterial through a guide 67 to a sheet conveyor mechanism 62 havingpaper grippers 63 thereon which carry the sheet support material in tocontact with the rotating xerographic drum in coordination with theappearance of a developed image at the transfer station.

The transfer of the xerographic powder imago from the drum surface tothe support material is effected by means of a corona transfer device 64that is located at or immediately after the point of contact between thesupport material and the rotating xerographic drum. The corona transferdevice 64 is substantially similar to the corona discharge device thatis employed at the charging station in that it also includes an array ofone or more corona discharge electrodes that are energized from asuitable high potential source and extend transversely across the drumsurface and are substantially enclosed with a shielding member. Inoperation, the electrostatic field created by the corona transfer deviceis effective to tack the transfer material electrostatically to the drumsurface and simultaneously with the tacking action, the electrostaticfield is effective to attract the toner particles comprising thexerographic powder image from the drum surface and cause them to adhereelectrostatically to the surface of the support material.

As the paper gripper mechanism continues to move forward in its closedcircuit, it will strip the support material from the xerographic drumand carry it to a fixing device, such as, for example, heat fuser 70,whereat the developed and transferred xerographic powder image on thesupport material is permanently fixed thereto.

After fusing, the finished copy is preferably discharged from theapparatus at a suitable point for collection externally of theapparatus. To accomplish this, there is provided a pair of deliveryrolls 65 and 66 by means of which the copy is delivered from the machineafter it 4.- is released by the gripper mechanism. Suitable cam means 68and 69 are provided at the receiving and delivery stations of theconveyor mechanism, respectively, to actuate the paper grippers at thesestations to receive or discharge a sheet of support material.

The next and final station in the device is a drum cleaning station Ewhereat any powder remaining on the xerographic drum after the transferstep is removed and whereat the xerographic drum is flooded with lightto cause dissipation of any residual electrical charge remaining on thexerographic drum.

To aid in the removal of any residual powder remaining on thexerographic drum, there is provided a corona precleaning device 84 thatis substantially similar to the corona discharge device that is employedat charging station A. Removal of residual powder from the xerographicdrum is effected by means of a web cleaner device adapted tocontinuously feed a clean fibrous web material into wiping contact withthe xerographic drum. As shown, the web material 55 is taken from asupply roll 81 and transported around a cleaning or pressure roll 82,preferably made of rubber, onto a take-up or rewind roll 83.

Any residual electrical charge remaining on the xerographic drum isdissipated by light from a fluorescent lamp 85 mounted in a suitablebracket above the xerographic drum, a suitable starter and ballast beingprovided for energizing the fluorescent lamp.

Suitable drive means drive the xerographic drum, the copy drum, thesheet conveyor mechanism at predetermined speeds relative to each other,and to effect operation of the paper separator roll, and the web cleanermechanism, the latter being driven at a speed or speeds whereby relativemovement between the xerographic drum and the web material is effected.Suitable drive means are also provided for effecting operation of theconveyor mechanism and toner dispenser of the developing apparatusassembly.

The frame for supporting the components of the apparatus is formed byfront plate 10, rear plate 12 and intermediate plate 11 connectedtogether and maintained rigidly in spaced relation to each other bysuitable tie rods, not shown.

The xerographic drum is mounted on horizontal driven shaft SHl and thedrum is positioned between frame plates 10 and 11 with the majorxerographic components of the machine mounted around the drum. The maindrive elements and controls for the components are mounted betweenplates 11 and 12.

It is believed that the foregoing description is sufficient for thepurposes of this application to show the general operation of axerographic reproducing apparatus, For further details concerning thespecific construction of the xerographic apparatus shown, reference ismade to Eichorn et al. Patent 3,099,943 issued August 6, 1963.

Exposure mechanism The exposure mechanism of the xerographic reproduclngapparatus is designed to use an optical projection or scanning mechanismadapted to scan a document or copy wrapped around a rotating copy drumand to project a flowing image of the document or copy onto thephotoconductive surface of the rotating xerographic drum.

As shown, the scanning mechanism includes a feeding station, a copystation, an exposure station, and means for moving the document throughthe copying station in synchronism with the movement of the xerographicdrum.

The feeding station includes a document guide 37 extending between frameplates 10 and 11, through which a document or copy to be reproduced ismoved forward into engagement with the copy drum 30 and the documentstops of the document retaining guide 38, the latter orien tating andholding the document in position to be gripped by the gripper fingers ofthe copy drum. The.

document retaining guide 38 and its relation to the copy drum isdescribed in detail in Dauis et a1. Patent 3,100,112 issued August 6,1963.

The copy drum 30 is fixed on shaft 8H2 rotatably supported in bearings1-21 and 122 mounted in frame plates 10 and 11, respectively.

Shaft SHZ is maintained in axial alignment by means of retaining rings12 3 positioned in suitable grooves formed in shaft SHZ adjacent thebearings 121 and 122.

The hub 1 24, fixed to shaft 81-12, is provided with an axial hub pin125 adapted to extend into a suitable aperture in the right-hand endplate of the copy drum by means of which the copy drum is secured forrotation with the shaft. The copy drum is normally biased into drivenengagement with the hub pin by spring 126 encircling lefthand end ofshaft 5H2, as seen in FIG. 2.

The peripheral surface of the copy drum 30 is provided with slots 132and 133, parallel and in line with each other through which gripperfingers 142 extend to grip the leading edge of a document against theperipheral surface of the copy drum. The gripper fingers are secured byscrews 134 to rock shaft 143 which is rotatably journaled in bearings138, mounted in the end plates of the copy drum, in such a manner thatupon rotation of the rock shaft the gripper fingers are moved in unisoninto and out of operative pressure relationship with the peripheralsurface of the copy drum or with a document sandwiched therebetween.Axial alignment of the rock shaft is maintained by retaining rings 139positioned in suitable grooves formed in the rock shaft.

The gripper fingers are normally biased into opera- .tive pressurerelationship against the peripheral surface of the copy drum by means ofa spring 144 secured at one end to a stud 145, extending from thelefthand end plate of the copy drum, as seen in FIG. 2, and connected atits other end to pin 146 etxending from lever 147 secured to thelefthand end of the rock shaft 143. A cam lever 148 is secured to therighthand end of the rock shaft in position to be engaged by aninter-poser pin 151 for opening the gripper mechanism to receive adocument or to release a document.

The lever 14-7 with the pin 146 thereon is mounted on the rock shaft ina manner twhereby as the rock shaft is rotated in one direction byengagement of the cam lever 148 with interposer pin 151, the lever isrotated sufiiciently to permit the spring 144 to maintain the gripperfingers in an open position to receive a sheet at the receiving stationof the apparatus. As the copy drum is rotated further, the cam lever 148will engage a gripper actuator pin 152 fixed to frame plate 11 to rotatethe rock shaft sufiicently to throw the spring 144 over the center ofthe axis of the rock shaft whereby the spring will bias the gripperfingers into contact with the peripheral surface of the copy drum orwith a document therebetween. As long as the gripper fingers are closed,the cam lever 148 will remain in a position out of interference relationwith the gripper actuator pin during continuing rotation of the copydrum.

The interposer pin for opening the gripper mechanism is adapted to bemoved manually either into position for operative engagement with thecam lever 148 on the rock shaft as the copy drum rotates, oralternatively, into an inoperative position so as to clear the cam leverfor the purpose described in greater detail hereinafter. When theinterposer pin 151 is in its operative position, the rock shaft isautomatically actuated during each revolution of the copy drum so that adocument retained by the gripper fingers is released for delivery fromthe machine and the gripper fingers remain open sufiiciently long enoughto receive a new or second document. Rotational movement of the rockshaft is limited by means of stop stud 149 secured to the lefthand endplate of the copy drum in position to be engaged by lever 147.

To permit multiple scanning of a document the interposer pin 151 ismoved to the right, to the position shown in FIG. 2, out of interferencerelation with cam lever 148, by an operator through the manipulation ofa suitable control knob, not shown. The copy drum drive and operation ofthe interposer pin is described in detail in the referenced copendingDavis et a1. Patent 3,100,112.

To efie-ct positive removal of a document from the copy drum, there isprovided a document separator, generally designated by referencecharacter 160, which is loosely journaled on the rock shaft 143 forswinging movement outwardly to positively push a sheet from theperipheral surface of the copy drum.

The document separator 160, in the embodiment shown, is provided withspaced ejector portions 161, a central weighted portion 162 and axiallyextending stop pins 16-3, all for a purpose to be described. The spacedejector portions 161 are provided with apertures 164 to loosely receivethe rock shaft 143. The document separator is axially aligned betweenthe two central gripper fingers 142 by means of retaining rings 165positioned in suitable angular grooves formed in the rock shaft. Withthis arrangement, the ejector portions 161 of the document separator arein position to extend through the slots 133 formed in the peripheralsurface of the copy drum 30.

The central weighted portion 162 of the document separator is ofsufiicient weight with respect tothe remainder of the document separatorso as to place the center of gravity of this apparatus at a pointapproximately as indicated by X in FIG. 3. With this arrangement, thedocument separator can be considered to be free swinging to normallymaintain a stable orientation with respect to the axis of the rock shaftduring the harmonic rise and fall of the rock shaft as the copy drum isrotated. This structure is analogous to the amusement-type Ferris wheel.

In the apparatus shown, however, the document separator is arranged in amanner whereby it is not always free swinging. As shown in the sequenceof diagrams, FIGS. 5 through 8, inclusive, the document separatorassumes various positions by means of the apparatus to be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, a position just prior to the release of a sheet bythe gripper fingers 142, the stop pins 163 of the document separator arein a position to be engaged by the center gripper fingers 142 wherebythe ejector portions are retained within the copy drum out of contactwith a sheet gripped between the gripper finger-s and the periphery ofthe copy drum. The biasing action of the spring 144 on the rock shaft issufiicient to lock the document separator in this retracted position.

Continued rotation of the copy drum to the position shown in FIG. 6,causes the gripper fingers to be opened by the interposer pin, if inoperative position to engage cam lever 148, thereby releasing thedocument separator at which time it becomes free swinging. Since thedocument separator is now free swinging, it will assume the positionshown in FIG. 6, whereat the ejector portions 161 extend outwardly fromthe peripheral surface of the copy drum to positively push a documentfrom the peripheral surface of the copy drum.

As the copy drum continues to rotate to the position shown in FIG. 7,wher-eat the gripper fingers are about to close to engage a new documentinserted through the document guide 37, the document separator is stillfree swinging and its weight will cause it to orientate itself in theposition shown with the ejector portions 161 now retracted into the copydrum. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, free swinging of the document separatorin a clockwise direction is limited by means of a document separator barstop 166 which extends through the copy drum and is connected atopposite ends to the ends of the copy drum.

With this arrangement, the document separator can, in effect, be lockedinside the copy drum out of releasing 7 engagement with a document orsheet, to permit a document or sheet to be retained on the copy drum forsuccessive conveying through the copying station of the apparatus.

As a document, gripped at its leading edge between the gripper fingersand the peripheral surface of the copy drum is transported therebythrough the copying station, as defined by the slotted light reflector32, successive portions of the document are uniformly illuminated bysuitable lamps 31 secured to the slotted light reflector 32.

The slotted light reflector 32 is slida'bly supported by a support 171extending substantially between frame plates and 11. The support 171 isformed with a depending rear flange 172, a front flange 173 and asubstantially C- shaped upper channel portion adapted to slidablyreceive the slotted light reflector 32. The support 171 is mountedbetween frame plates 10 and 11 by means of a pin 175 fixed to frameplate 11, the pin extending through a suitable aperture in the rearflange, and by screws 176 extending through apertures in the frontflange 173 and threaded into the frame plate 10. Frame plate 10 isprovided with a suitable cut-out portion to permit insertion of theseelements into the machine from the frame plate 10 side of the machine,as shown in FIG. 4.

The slotted light reflector 32 is held in position within the support,with the slot aperture in the slotted light reflector positioned overthe slot aperture 174 extending across substantially the length of thesupport 171 by means of a leaf spring 178 secured at one end to thelefthand side of the support 171 as seen in FIG. 4. The free end of theleaf spring extends through an aperture in the side of support to engagea suitable detent, .not shown, formed in the side of the slotted lightreflector 32.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a support spring 181 is secured to the underside of the support 171 as by rivets, and a support spring and guide 182is mounted to the letfhand side of the support, also by rivets. Attachedto the leading edge of the support spring 181 in terms of the directionof the rotation of the copy drum with respect to the support spring, area number of guide fingers 183 formed of spring material so that thetrailing edge or free end of the guide fingers will lightly contact theperipheral surface of the copy drum or a document being advancedtherebetween to retain the trailing edge of a document in surfacecontact with the peripheral surface of the copy drum. These guidefingers are positioned to hold a document in contact with the peripheralsurface of the drum as the document is conveyed through the copyingstation of the apparatus.

In the event that more than one document is accidentally insert-ed intothe machine, or in the event that a document has not been gripped by thegripper fingers 142, the extra document or the unsecured document maystill be transported by the copy drum due to frictional contact of thedocument against the surface of the drum or a document carried thereonor because of electrostatic attraction. To ensure that such a documentwill be conveyed through the normal document path, there is provided atransparent document guide, generally designated 185, at the copyingstation to cover the aperture in the support.

The transparent document guide 185 includes a frame 186 having a narrowslot aperture 187 extending substantially across its entire length. Atransparent platen 188, such as a plate of glass, is secured to theunder side of the frame as by cement or tape in position to overlie theslot aperture. The frame with the glass platen is slidably secured tothe slotted support 'by means of the support spring 181 and the supportspring and guide 182. The leading edge of the support spring and guide182 is turned backward in the direction of rotation of the copy drum todeflect the leading edge of a loose document in the normal path oftravel of a document.

To further guide a loose document in a path around the copy drum, thereis provided an upper curved guide 191, a lower curved guide 192 and acurved side guide 193 slidably secured in the ends of and between theupper guide and lower guide. The upper guide 191 is positioned in spacedrelation with respect to the surface of the copy drum by means of a tierod 194 to which it is secured as by screws 195. The lower guide issecured to frame plates 10 and 11 as by screws 195 extending through thedepending flange portion of the lower guide.

With this arrangement, there is provided a substantially smooth copypath for a loose document, the copy path being defined by thetransparent platen, the support spring and guide, the upper guide, theside guide, and the bottom guide encircling the copy drum to a point atwhich the feedout rollers 42 contact the copy drum.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structuredisclosed herein, it is not intended to be confined to the details setforth. It is apparent that more than one document separator may he usedon a document drum and it is apparent that the two ejector portions ofthe document separator need not be combined into a single documentseparator. Accordingly, this application is intended to cover suchmodifications or changes which may come within the purpose or the scopeof the following claims:

We claim:

1. A document feed mechanism for conveying a document from a documentfeeding station through a copying station to a document dischargestation, the document feed mechanism including a cylinder journaled forrotation, said cylinder having apertures in the peripheral surfacethereof,

document gripper means carried by said cylinder, said document grippermeans including a rock shaft journaled in said cylinder and extendingout from opposite sides thereof, said rock shaft being positionedparallel to the axis of rotation of said cylinder,

gripper fingers secured at one end in spaced relation on said rock shaftand positioned to have the free end of each gripper finger extendingthrough an aperture in the peripheral surface of the cylinder wherebythe free end of the gripper fingers are in position to cooperate withthe peripheral surface of said cylinder to engage the leading edge of adocument,

a lever connected to one end of said rock shaft,

a cam lever connected to the opposite end of said rock shaft,

spring means attached to said cylinder and connected to said lever fornormally biasing said gripper fingers into cooperating relation withsaid cylinder,

a document separator loosely mounted on said rock shaft for normallyfree swinging movement thereon, said document separator having at leastone ejector thereon, said document separator being positioned adjacentto at least one of said gripper fingers whereby the free swingingmovement of said document separator is restrained by the gripper fingerwhen the gripper finger is in the closed position and whereby, when freeswinging, the ejector on said document separator will extend through anaperture in the peripheral surface of the cylinder to push a documentfrom said cylinder when released by said gripper fingers,

means for rotating said cylinder in a path through a document feedingstation, a copying station and a document discharge station,

means to hold and align a document tangentially to said cylinder, saidmeans being located at said document feeding station adjacent saidcylinder,

interposer means movably positioned adjacent said cylinder for movementfrom a first position in which said interposer means is in operativerelation to said cam lever to open said gripper fingers as they areadvanced through said document discharge station and to a secondposition in which said interposer means is out of operative relation tosaid cam lever,

and gripper actuator means positioned adjacent said cylinder ininterference relationship to said cam lever to a cam lever connected tothe opposite end of said rock shaft, spring means attached to saidcylinder and connected to said lever for normally biasing the gripperfinger when said gripper fingers are in an open position to intocooperating relation with said cylinder, close said gripper fingers asthey are advanced ada document separator loosely mounted on said rockjacent said document feeding station. shaft for free swinging movementthereon to nor- 2. A document feed mechanism for conveying a documallymaintain a stable orientation with respect to ment from a documentfeeding station through a copying the axis of the rock shaft during theharmonlc rise station to a document discharge station, the document feedand fall of the rock shaft as the cylinder is rotated, mechanismincluding said document separator having at least one docua cylinderjournaled for rotation, said cylinder having ment ejector adapted toextend through the aperture apertures in the peripheral surface thereof,in said cylinder, said document separator being posia rock shaftjournaled in said cylinder and extending tioned adjacent to atleast oneof said gr pper fingers out fro-m opposite sides thereof, said rockshaft being whereby the free swinging movement o said docupositionedparallel to the axis of rotation of said ment separator is restralned bythe gripper finger cylinder, when the gripper fingenis n the closedposition and gripper fingers secured at one end in spaced relationwhereby, when free swinging, the document e ector on said rock shaft andpositioned to have the free will push a dOcument from sald cylinder whenreend of each gripper finger extending through an aperbiased y g ppfi f'r ture in the peripheral surface of the cylinder whereby means forrotating said cylinder in a path through a the free end of the gripperfingers are in position to document fgedlng fi a PS/ statloll and acooperate with the peripheral surface of said cylinder documentdischarge station, v to engage the leading edge of a document, means tohold and align a document tangentlally to said a lever connected to oneend of said rock shaft, Cylinder, l meafls belng healed at Sfllddocumfint a cam lever connected to the opposite end of said rockfetidillg stfiltlon adlfilcellt Sa1d y f i shaft, means positioned adacent said cylinder to open sa d spring means attached to said cylinderand connected to PP fingers as y are advanced through 581d said leverfor normally biasing said gripper fingers document dlschafge Statlon; finto cooperating relation with said cylinder, pp a u means p r g l esald y a document separator loosely mounted on said rock lndel'lntefference felatlonsjllp t0 Sald shaft for normally free swingingmovement thereon, When l PP fingers an p P P said document separatorhaving injector portions c1956 531d gripper finger 1t is advancedadlacent thereon adapted to extend through the apertures in Salddocument feeding f the peripheral surface of the cylinder, said documentA document feed mschamsm for convex/ms docuseparator being positionedadjacent to at least one of said gripper fingers whereby the freeswinging movement of said document separator is restrained by thegripper finger when the gripper finger is in the closed position andwhereby, when free swinging, the ejector portions of said documentseparator will push a document from said cylinder when released by saidgripper fingers,

means for rotating said cylinder in a path through a document feedingstation, a copying station and a document discharge station,

means to hold and align a document tangentially to said cylinder, saidmeans being located at said document feeding station adjacent saidcylinder,

means positioned adjacent said cylinder to open said gripper fingers asthey are advanced through said document discharge station, and

gripper actuator means positioned adjacent said cylinder in interferencerelationship to said cam lever when said gripper fingers are in an openposition to 5 close said gripper fingers as they are advanced adjacentsaid document feeding station.

3. A document feed mechanism for conveying a document from a documentfeeding station through a copying station to a document dischargestation, the document feed mechanism including a cylinder journaled forrotation, said cylinder having at least one aperture in the peripheralsurface thereof,

a rock shaft journaled in said cylinder and extending out from oppositesides thereof, said rock shaft being positioned parallel to the axis ofrotation of said cylinder,

at least one gripper finger secured at one end on said rock shaft andpositioned to have the free end of the gripper finger extending throughthe aperture in the peripheral surface of the cylinder whereby the freeend of the gripper finger is in position to cooperate with theperipheral surface of said cylinder to engage the leading edge of adocument,

a lever connected to one end of said rock shaft, 75

ment from a document feeding station through a copying station to adocument discharge station, the document feed mechanism including acylinder journaled for rotation, said cylinder having slots in theperipheral surface thereof,

a rock shaft journaled in said cylinder and extending out from oppositesides thereof, said rock shaft being positioned parallel to the axis ofrotation of said cylinder,

gripper fingers secured at one end in spaced relation on said rock shaftand positioned to have the free end of each gripper finger extendingthrough a slot in the peripheral surface of the cylinder whereby thefree end of the gripper fingers are in position to cooperate with theperipheral surface of said cylinder to engage the leading edge of adocument,

a lever connected to one end of said rock shaft,

a cam lever connected to the opposite end of said rock shaft,

spring means attached to said cylinder and connected to said lever fornormally biasing said gripper fingers into cooperating relation withsaid cylinder,

a document separator loosely mounted on said rock shaft for normallyfree swinging movement thereon, said document separator having ejectorportions thereon adapted to extend through slots in the peripheralsurface of the cylinder, said document separator including a weightedportion of sufficient weight with respect to the remainder of thedocument separator whereby the document separator will normally maintaina stable orientation with respect to the axis of the rock shaft duringthe harmonic rise and fall of the rock shaft as said cylinder isrotated, said document separator being positioned adjacent to at leastone of said gripper fingers whereby the free swinging movement of saiddocument separator is restrained by this gripper finger when the gripperfinger is in the closed position and whereby, when free swinging, theejector portions of said document separator will extend through theslots in the peripheral surface of the cylinder to push a document fromsaid cylinder when released by said gripper fingers,

means for rotating said cylinder in a path through a document feedingstation, a copying station and a document discharge station,

means to hold and align a document tangentially to said cylinder, saidmeans being located at said document feeding station adjacent saidcylinder,

interposer means movably positioned adjacent said cylinder for movementfrom a first position in which said interposer means is in operativerelation to said cam lever to open said gripper fingers as they areadvanced through said document discharge station and to a secondposition in which said interposer means is out of operative relation tosaid cam lever, and

gripper actuator means positioned adjacent said cylinder in interferencerelationship to said cam lever when said gripper fingers are in an openposition to close said gripper fingers as they are advanced adjacentsaid document feeding station.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS M. HENSON WOOD,JR., Primary Examiner.

1. A DOCUMENT FEED MECHANISM FOR CONVEYING A DOCUMENT FROM A DOCUMENTFEEDING STATION THROUGH A COPYING STATION TO A DOCUMENT DISCHARGESTATION, THE DOCUMENT FEED MECHANISM INCLUDING A CYLINDER JOURNALED FORROTATION, SAID CYLINDER HAVING APERTURES IN THE PERIPHERAL SURFACETHEREOF, DOCUMENT GRIPPER MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CYLINDER, SAID DOCUMENTGRIPPER MEANS INCLUDING A ROCK SHAFT JOURNALED IN SAID CYLINDER ANDEXTENDING OUT FROM OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, SAID ROCK SHAFT BEINGPOSITIONED PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CYLINDER, GRIPPERFINGERS SECURED AT ONE END IN SPACED RELATION ON SAID ROCK SHAFT ANDPOSITIONED TO HAVE THE FREE END OF EACH GRIPPER FINGER EXTENDING THROUGHAN APERTURE IN THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF THE CYLINDER WHEREBY THE FREEEND OF THE GRIPPER FINGERS ARE IN POSITION TO COOPERATE WITH THEPERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID CYLINDER TO ENGAGE THE LEADING EDGE OF ADOCUMENT, A LEVER CONNECTED TO ONE END OF SAID ROCK SHAFT, A CAM LEVERCONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID ROCK SHAFT, SPRING MEANS ATTACHEDTO SAID CYLINDER AND CONNECTED TO SAID LEVER FOR NORMALLY BIASING SAIDGRIPPER FINGERS INTO COOPERATING RELATION WITH SAID CYLINDER, A DOCUMENTSEPARATOR LOOSELY MOUNTED ON SAID ROCK SHAFT FOR NORMALLY FREE SWINGINGMOVEMENT THEREON, SAID DOCUMENT SEPARATOR HAVING AT LEAST ONE EJECTORTHEREON, SAID DOCUMENT SEPARATOR BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT TO AT LEASTONE OF SAID GRIPPER FINGERS WHEREBY THE FREE SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAIDDOCUMENT SEPARATOR IS RESTRAINED BY THE GRIPPER FINGER WHEN THE GRIPPERFINGER IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION AND WHEREBY, THE FREE SWINGING, THEEJECTOR ON SAID DOCUMENT SEPARATOR WILL EXTEND THROUGH AN APERTURE INTHE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF THE CYLINDER TO PUSH A DOCUMENT FROM SAIDCYLINDER WHEN RELEASED BY SAID GRIPPER FINGERS, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAIDCYLINDER IN A PATH THROUGH A DOCUMENT FEEDING STATION, A COPYING STATIONAND A DOCUMENT DISCHARGE STATION, MEANS TO HOLD AND ALIGN A DOCUMENTTANGENTIALLY TO SAID CYLINDER, SAID MEANS BEING LOCATED AT SAID DOCUMENTFEEDING STATION ADJACENT SAID CYLINDER, INTERPOSER MEANS MOVABLYPOSITIONED ADJACENT SAID CYLINDER FOR MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST POSITION INWHICH SAID INTERPOSER MEANS IS IN OPERATIVE RELATION TO SAID CAM LEVERTO OPEN SAID GRIPPER FINGERS AS THEY ARE ADVANCED THROUGH SAID DOCUMENTDISCHARGE STATION AND TO A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH SAID INTERPOSERMEANS IS OUT OF OPERATIVE RELATION TO SAID CAM LEVER, AND GRIPPERACTUATOR MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID CYLINDER IN INTERFERENCERELATIIOSHIP TO SAID CAM LEVER WHEN SAID GRIPPER FINGERS ARE IN AN OPENPOSITION TO CLOSE SAID GRIPPER FINGERS AS THEY ARE ADVANCED ADJACENTSAID DOCUMENT FEEDING STATION.